SANDAKAN: Sabah is grappling with a worrying rise in lifestyle-related illnesses, as health authorities highlight a “double burden” of malnutrition, where communities are affected by both undernutrition and excessive calorie intake.

Sabah Health Department director Dr Maria Suleiman said the spike in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension and stroke is closely tied to poor dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles.

“We are dealing with a dual challenge: undernutrition on one hand and overconsumption of calories on the other, along with poor dietary choices.

“If we consume too much, we open ourselves up to health issues such as diabetes, dyslipidemia and high blood pressure,” she told reporters after launching the Jom Sihat Sandakan programme at Sejati Walk here on Saturday.

Dr Maria revealed that 298 new stroke cases were reported at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and 198 at Duchess of Kent Hospital in 2024 alone, many of which were closely linked to high blood pressure.

She urged the public to take charge of their health by adopting healthier diets and incorporating more physical activity into their daily routines.

Citing data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey, Dr Maria noted a steady increase in chronic illnesses across Sabah.

“For diabetes, the prevalence in Sabah rose from 5.7% in 2011 to 8.8% in 2023. Dyslipidemia increased slightly from 31% to 32%, while overweight rates rose from 28% to 30.9%. Obesity, which is very concerning, almost doubled, from 10.6% to 19.5%,” she added.

The programme held at Sejati Walk included health screenings, nutrition exhibitions, counselling, interactive activities and health talks to raise awareness on the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

Dr Maria added that the initiative aligns with the goals of the National Nutrition Policy, which promotes sustainable food systems and improved access to nutritious diets.